Pinkus Münster Alt

Bottoms Up

Last week, 7 Monks Taproom in Traverse City made history by becoming the first establishment in North America to tap a keg of Pinkus Münster Alt, from the Pinkus Müller brewery in Münster, Germany. We were on hand to try one of the very first pours, and it did not disappoint. In the German brewing tradition, “alt” is short for “altbier,” a malty, top-fermented style of beer that was largely swept aside by the later lager style. Most alt-style brews are native to the Düsseldorf area and carry a caramel or copper-hued color. The Pinkus Münster Alt represents a regional tweak on that recipe, native to Münster and carrying a paler, hazier, more golden hue. It’s the only Münster-style altbier still brewed anywhere on the planet, and it had never been poured from a tap in North America until June 20 in downtown TC. There’s no predicting how long the 7 Monks keg will last, so get there now (128 S. Union Street) to try this light, refreshing beer that sits somewhere at the cross-section of the amber, lager, sour, and wheat beer styles. $8.50 for a 13-ounce pour. (231) 421-8410, www.7monkstap.com